I don’t answer because I am not going.
“You owe student loans, yes?”
I sit up. “Wow, you really are going there.”
I hear a small snicker.
“I will pay off your student loans and down-payment the luxury condo in Lakeshore.”
I shake my head. “No, Lia.”
Lia huffs. “Fine, I will pay for the condo and your loans, and I will give you fifty percent of the money Roman is paying. Think of it: other than sitting in that box apartment for the holidays, you can be smiling, eating cookies, and wearing a beautiful red dress for Christmas. Think of it as…community service. You will be helping poor Roman’s pride as he saves your bank account.”
“Save my ass,” I mutter.
“Or you can always go back to Trinidad and talk to your father.”
I press the heel of my hand into my eye. I hated her logic and that she knew so much. I hate that she was making sense.
“Sixty, and I would say yes.”
Lia cackles over the phone. “Deal. You should have gone for eighty.”
“I’m going to regret this,” I mutter.
“No,kukolka,” Lia purred. “You’re going to be fabulous. Now let me send you the money and details.”
Chapter two
Rules and Regulations
ROMAN
Of course she is late. I spoke to Lia at length last night. I paid for two weeks of Noelle’s time. I can’t believe I am doing this. But as I put my car into park, I only see people huddling in their coats. No sign of Noelle.
Grabbing my iPad, I search for Noelle’s file. Yes, I was at the right place, Melrose Gardens. Apartment 1C. Did I want to get out of the car and get Noelle? No, I do not.
My phone shrills in the car. “MOM.” Shit!
“Mom.” I close my eyes and lean on the steering wheel.
“Hi, Rom. Michelle Durhan’s daughter is flying in tomorrow, so I was thinking that—”
“I have a fiancée, Mom.”
The car goes silent.
I don’t bother saying hello. I know she’s still there.
“Rom, you had a girlfriend and fiancée, and you said nothing!” I can hear the hysteria creeping into her voice.
“I don’t hear from you other than holidays. You hardly call; now you have a fiancée?”
“Yes.” I wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Does your father or brother know?”
The thought of having to explain this to my father makes my head throb. “No.”
